Lobelia plant named &#39;klele12471&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  lobelia  plant named ‘KLELE12471’ particularly distinguished by being a compact variety with an upright to half-hanging habit and medium blue flowers with a distinct white eye, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Lobelia erinus

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLELE12471’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of lobelia,botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLELE12471’. The new variety resulted from an openpollination conducted in June 2006 in Stuttgart, Germany, between femaleparent lobelia plant named ‘LE 06 0141’, (unpatented) and an unknownmale parent lobelia plant. A single plant selection was subsequentlychosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings and invitro propagation in May 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany, and has beenasexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings for 15generations. ‘KLELE12471’ has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetativecuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have not been applied for.‘KLELE12471’ has not been made publicly available more than one yearprior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Compact variety with upright to half-hanging habit; and

2. Medium blue flowers with a distinct white eye.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant in full color. The colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotograph was taken in the spring of 2012 on a 3-month old lobeliaplant grown in a 10 centimeter pot in a glass greenhouse in Stuttgart,Germany under normal horticultural practices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLELE12471’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the spring of 2012 on3-month old plants grown in 10 centimeter pots in a glass greenhousewith a pinch date at week eight. This description is in accordance withUPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions, and otherphenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values anddescriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal,climatic, and cultural conditions. Color readings were taken undernatural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition(2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Lobelia erinus.        -   Common name.—Lobelia.        -   Designation.—‘KLELE12471’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Lobelia plant named ‘LE 06 0141’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Unknown lobelia plant.-   Growth:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Upright to half-hanging.        -   Form.—Rounded to flat.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil, including any            flowers).—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter, including any            flowers).—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—9 weeks.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Very good.        -   Time to initiate roots.—After 2 weeks first root-tips            visible, after 3 weeks rooted cutting, after 4 weeks            saleable rooted cutting.        -   Root description.—Fine, white roots, freely branching and            dense.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Length.—2.0 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to lanceolate, with upper leaves more            lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color (immature and mature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS 137A            Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate Venation color: RHS 137C.-   Stems:    -   -   Length.—10.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.0 cm.        -   Color.—Between RHS 137A and RHS 141A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Stem anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Peduncle.—Color: Between RHS 137A and RHS 141A Length: 1.0            cm to 3.0 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Texture: Smooth.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Color (when first opening).—Greyish violet.        -   Shape.—Inverse drop.        -   Length.—0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on plant.—Approximately 1            week.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per flowering branch.—10 to 15.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—1.5 cm.        -   Flower height (vertical).—1.0 cm.        -   Immature flower.—Upper lobe color: Upper surface: RHS 96B            Lower surface: RHS 96D Lower lobe color: Upper surface: RHS            96B Lower surface: RHS 96C.        -   Mature flower.—Upper lobe: Color: Upper surface: RHS 96B            Lower surface: RHS 96D Length: 0.9 cm Width: 0.6 cm Shape:            Obovate Apex: Obtuse Margin: Entire Texture (both upper and            lower surfaces): Smooth Lower lobe: Color: Upper surface:            RHS 96B Lower surface: RHS 96C Length: 0.6 cm Width: 0.2 cm            Shape: Obovate Apex: Obtuse Margin: Entire Texture (both            upper and lower surfaces): Smooth.        -   Corolla.—Color inside: Pure white; closest to RHS NN155D            Color outside: Pure white; closest to RHS NN155D Tube            length: 1.0 cm Diameter (at the top of the tube): 0.3 cm.        -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals: 5 Color: Upper surface: RHS 137A            (fused part) and slight RHS 141 C anthocyanin coloration            near margins Lower surface: RHS 137A with slight anthocyanin            coloration near margins Length: 1.0 cm Fused part: 0.4 cm            Non-fused part: 0.6 cm Diameter (at fusion point): 0.1 cm            Shape: Funnel, star-shaped with fused sepals in lower half            Apex: Acute Texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Quantity of anthers: 5 Filament length: 0.8 cm            Filament color: Bluish white Pollen color: Grey Pollen            amount: Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil length: 0.6 cm Stigma color: Greyed violet            Style length: 0.7 cm Style color: RHS 142B.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of species

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLELE12471’ differs from the female parent, ‘LE 06 0141’, (unpatented)in that ‘KLELE12471’ has a compact, upright to half-hanging habit withmedium blue flowers, whereas ‘LE 06 0141’ has a vigorous, straight,upright habit with violet flowers.

‘KLELE12471’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Techno Heat UprightBlue’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,056) in that ‘KLELE12471’ has greenfoliage, medium strong stems and smaller flowers, whereas ‘Techno HeatUpright Blue’ has grey foliage, stronger stems and larger flowers.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct lobelia plant named ‘KLELE12471’ asshown and described herein.